Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-05
Hon. Engaged Couples Behave.

women, and happy Observation-Disclosures
per's Bazar.
Ho,p Engaged Couples Behave.
A pretty girl who has had, and still
has scores of admirers, was the first to
take the witness-stand. Her testimony
was given with charming grace, and
carried conviction. 1t is this:
II have been engaged twice" A sur
prised murmur rose from the party.
"And the truth of the saying that there
is no accounting for women's tastes was
fully verified in my case, for the two
gentlemen could not have been more
unlike. The first proposal came from
one some years my senior. He told his
tale with difficulty, and the hesitation
with which he talked impaired to me
something akin to it, for did not ac-
cept him as quickly as 1 intended.
However, we became engaged and re-
manned so for four months. And do
you know that during the whole time
he never as much as touched my hand 2"
"Never kissed you?" asked petite
brunette, in tone of wondering in
dignation.
Never"
"The other man was an ardent
wooer, and was great stickler for
what he called 'his rights Having
been educated, so to speak, in the
puritanical system characteristic Of my
first engagement, I was disposed to re-
sent the seeming liberties he took; but
I was told that an engaged couple were
expected to be more demonstrative to
each other than ordinary acquaint-
ances."
Glow do you mean?"
"Well, there is certainly no harm in
q woman permitting man to whom
she has plighted her troth occasionally
kissing her. 1t is very frequently
done, know, and when no such UNDER
standing exists, an exception to the
rule is found"
II don't know about that" was the
dreamy observation of young fellow
who was said to be engaged. II am
disposed to think the puritanical sys-
TEN is yet very extensively practiced.
"What is the conduct toward each
other Of engaged couples?" asked one
of the party.
I'm honest, serious entanglemcnts 2"
queried lady.
"Yes."
"When q woman is truly and hon
estly in love with man she is very
careful, indeed, more so than she ordi-
narily is, in her conduct toward him.
She is afraid of doing something that
will injure her in his estimation. The
more ardently she loves him the more
reserved, frequently, is she with her
caresses and endearments. speak of
the engaged period of course; after
marriage it is different. He perhaps
kisses her few times before they are
married. I am told up North, and
even in parts of the South, it is differ
ent. An engagement becomes public
affair, is announced, and the behavior
of the couple is expected to be that of
an engaged couple. Here with us it
has not yet reached that point. It will
some day, am confident, and I do not
know that it is not the best plan bv far.
1t is certainly far more attractive to
the parties themselves, and it is a
serious drawback to flirting and
coquetry which too often characterizes
young girls. With us, a girl likes to be
with her tiance, but the moment the
public becomes aware of the fact that
he is her intended husband, she rather
avoids public appearance in his COM
pany. just why it is I do not know.
but it is frequently the case. know
a lady, now staid matron, who was
engaged for a year before marriage.
who requested her fiance, six months
before the time, to refrain from visiting
her. And for six months previous to
the wedding she did not see him, though
they lived within twelve miles of each
other. "-Ahd1atG Constitution.